Match-box.



No. 744,074. f PATBNTBD Nov.17,`19o,s.

o. HIBRING. MATCH B0X.

APPLI'GATIONIILED IEB. 18. 1903. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

NO MODEL.

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PATENTED NOV. 17, 1903.

C. HIERING.

MATCH BOX.

APPLIGAHON FILED PEB. 1a. 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented November 17, 1903.

PATENT Ormea..

CHRISTIAN IIIERING, OF NEWARK, NEV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE J. E. MERGOTT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

I MA1-sweex.

.'PEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,074, dated November 1'7, 1903.

V Application tiled February 18, 1903. Serial No. 143,899. iNo modeL Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN-Hisawa, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes or other Receptacles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip.

tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates generally to irnprovements in boxes or receptacles for matches or other articles, the principal purpose'of this invention being to provide a novel construction ofl boX or receptacle which is especially adapted for the placing of matches, cigarettes, or the like therein and can conveniently be carried in the pocket, the box or receptacle being provided with a double lid or cover, one of which can readily be opened, but the other while being easily opened requiring some ingenuity on the part of the operator before solving the mystery of opening this second lid or cover.

This invention, therefore, has for its main object to provide a trick or puzzle box or receptacle and, furthermore, to provide a novel construction of box or receptacle for matches or other articles, all with a view of providing an ornamental, neat, and cheaplyconstructed box or receptacle, as wellV as a useful toy from which maybe obtained some pleasure and amusement `-in the manipulation of the lid or cover. Y

The present invention consists, primarily, in the novel match or other box hereinafter set forth; and, furthermore, this invention consists in the various novel arrangements and combinations of parts, all of which will be described in detail in the following specification and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l' is a side view of a box or receptacle made according to the principles of this invention, the lids or covers of the box or receptacle being represented in their closedpositions; and Fig. 2 is a rear edgefview of the box. Fig. 3 is a side view ot' the said box or receptacle with the outer lid or cover shown in its raised or opened position. Fig. 4 is a top edge view of the parts as represented in Fig. l, and Fig. 5 is a similar View of the parts as represented in Fig.`3. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line 6 6 in said Fig. 5, representing the one lid or cover in its raised or opened position and the inner or trick lid in its closed relation with the main body of the box or receptacle. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal vertical section of the box or receptacle and its parts, illustrating both the outer and inner or trick lids in their operated or raised positions. Fig. 8 is atransverse vertical section of the box or receptacle, taken on line 8 8 in Fig. 7 when looking in the direction of arrow; and Fig. 9 is asimilar section taken online 9 9 in Fig. 6 looking in the direction of arrow y.- Fig. l0 is a perspective View of the outer lid or cover, and Fig.V ll is a similar view of the inner or trick lid. Fig. 12 is a perspective .view of the actuating-spring for retaining the outer lid or cover in its raised as well as in its closed position, and Fig.r 13 is a perspective View of a releasing-spring employed in connection with the inner or trick lid or cover. Fig. la is a similar view of a filling employed with the device.

Similar characters of reference lare employed in all of the said hereinabove-described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said drawings, the reference character l indicates the complete box or receptacle, which may be employed for the carrying of matches, cigarettes, and other articles. The said box or receptacle consists, essentially, oi' a main body 2, made from sheet metal and preferably provided with a pair of beads or projections 3 and 4.' The lower part of said main body is closed by the cap or shell portion 5,'and its upper open portion forms a mouth 6. 'lhose portions of the outer surface of the said main body 2 between the beads 3 and Il are preferably covered with a suitable fabric 7, of leather, imitation of leather, or any other suitable material, the saine being secured to the said metal body 2 in any well-known manner. As will be Seen from an inspection of Figs. 6 and 7, there may be arranged at the narrow front edge 8 of the said main body between the outer surface of said body and the inner surface of said covering 7a filling 9, (represented more particularly in Fig. 14 of the drawings,) the said filling being preferably a piece of plastic material, such as Celluloid or the like; but a thin sheet of metal may be used, if desired, the purpose of this filling being fully set forth hereinafter'. The said main body 2 is provided in said narrowl front vedge portion 8 with an opening 10 and a holding member or loop 1l, forced out from the metal, as illustrated in the drawings, or otherwise connected with the said edge portion 8 upon the interior surface thereof, as will be clearly understood. In this holding member or loop is slipped and held therein, by means of a bent portion 14, the holding-tongue 13 of a releasing-spring 12, as represented in said Figs. 6 and 7, the said spring being made in the manner of a fiat and plate-like body, having a push-piece 15, which in its normal initial position extends into the opening 10 and is in close contact with the said filling 9, as illustrated. The upper part of the said fiat spring 12 is provided with a suitably bent or curved and slightly inwardly extending holding member 16, its curved end 17 projecting into the mouth 6 and also having a receiving-opening 18. Under normal conditions this springplate l2 stands in the position indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawings; but when pressure is applied by means of the thumb in the manner indicated in Fig. 7 upon the outer surface of the fabric 7 then the said filling 9 is sufficiently pressed or forced into the opening l0 and against the push-piece 15, thereby forcing the greater portion of said releasingspring plate 12 in an inward direction, and thereby Acausing said plate to assume the position represented in Fig. 7 until the pressure is removed, when said spring-plate 12 once more assumes its normalinitial position. (Indicated in said Fig. 6.) Coming now to the manner of connecting the outer cover or lid and the inner ortrick lid to said main body 2 it will be noticed that the said outer lid or cover, which is indicated by the reference character 19, is made in the manner illustrated, being provided at the back with apair of perforated ears or lugs 19', by means of which the said lid 19 is pivoted or hinged upon a pintle 20, extending directly across the back or rear end of the mouth 6 of the said casing. When the said lid 19 is closed, then its surrounding edge 2l rests directly upon the upper bead or projection 3, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The

said outer lid or cover 19 is also provided near its pivotal portion with a shoe 22, suitably secured to the inner surface of said lid or cover 19, the said shoe being formed With-a forwardly-extending member or stud 23. That the said stud 23 may be arranged over the pintle 2O said stud is made with a cutaway portion 24, as illustrated, which is fitted and moves about the 'said pintle 2O during the opening and closing operations of the said lid or cover. That the said lid or cover 19 may be positively retained in either its closed or open relation with the mouth 6 of the said body 2 a suitably-constructed flat spring 25 has its upper end portion in slidable engagement with the free end of the said stud 23. The said spring-plate 25 is provided with a tongue 26 or other'suitably-formed holding member provided, preferably, with a bent or curved portion 28, which is slipped into and is securely held in a loop or other suitablyformed holding means 29, extendinginwardly from the inner surface of the back edge of the body 2. Astop or projection 30 is formed upon the same surface of said back edge of the body 2 to limit the movement of the said spring-plate 25 in the direction of the arrow a: toits normal initial position. The opening and closing movements of the said outer lid or cover will be clearly understood, and it will be seen that the said lid is held in its closed relation with the mouth portion 6 without the use of a holding-catch. As will be seen from an inspection ot' Figs. 6, 7, and 10, the said lid or cover 19 has its back edge 3l provided with a slit 32, so as to fit over the previously-mentioned stud 23, thus providing a tongue 33 at each side of the slit, each tongue being preferably made with the slightly upwardly curved edge portion 34.

Now coming to the inner trick-lid 35, it will be seen that the same is provided at or near its rear end portion with a pair of down-` wardly-extending and perforated ears or lugs 36, by means of which said inner lid is pivotally arranged upon the previously mentioned p intle 2O between the ears or lugs 19 of the outer lid or cover 19, the said lid 35 being provided with a slot or opening 37, into which the shoe 22 and the stud 23 of the outer lid or cover 19 extend, so as not to interfere with the pivotal movements of the inner or trick lid 35. The said inner lid 35 is made at its forward end with a downwardly-extending portion 38, which when the lid is in its closed position in the mouth 6 of the body 2 presses directly upon the curved end 17of the releasing-spring 12, said portion 38 passing between the holding `member 16 of said spring and the inner surface of the front edge portion of the box, a rearwardly-extending nosing or holding-catch 39 on said portion 38 being forced into locked engagement with the receiving portion 18 of the spring l2, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. In order that the said inner lid 35 will be forced into its open position (indicated in Fig. 7) when the said releasing-spring 12 has been forced from its holding orlocked engagement with said nosing or catch, a helical spring 40 is arranged upon the pintle 20, said spring- 40' having one of its end portions resting against the under surface of said lid 35, while IOO IIO

-the spring Li being to force the said inner lid 35` in its opened or raised position when released from its holding engagement with the spring 12 irrespective of the movements of the outer lid 19. Vhen both the said lids 19 and 35 are closed, then the edge 41 of the shoe 22 bears directly upon the edge 42 of the slot or opening 37 of the innerlid 35, and thereby holds both said lids 19 and 85 in the closed positions even, when pressure is applied at such time against the outer front edge of the box or receptacle.

To raise the inner lid 35, the outer lid 19 is'rst opened or raised in the usual manner,

and its position then is such that the inner lid 35 can be released from its holding en-` gagement with the spring 12 when pressure is applied upon the edge of the box or receptacle by the operator in the manner indicated in said Fig. 7. As illustrated more particularly in Fig. l1 of the drawings, the said inner lid or cover 35 may be provided upon its upper surface with a card 43, bearing an inscription, as Solve the mystery or Wordsv of a similar nature, or an advertisement, or said card may be of a suitable material for scratching matches thereon. Said card is slidably held upon the said lid by a suitable arrangement of ribs 44 and holding-lugs 45, as shown.

The manner of operating the two lids or covers, although appearing very difficult to the uninitiated, is very simpie and will be readily understood from the foregoing descriptio'nof the present invention, the construction of the several parts being simple, cheap, and neat, as Well as perfectly operative, and, furthermore, a useful toy or trickbox is provided from which may be obtained much pleasure and amusement.

I am fully aware that changes may be made in the several arrangements and combinations of the variousparts, as Well as in the details of the construction of the parts thereof, Without departing from the scope of this invention. Hence I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the devices and their parts as set forthin the previous specification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of any of the parts thereof.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim is- 1. A box or receptacle for matches or other articles, comprising, a main body having a mouth, an outer lid arranged over said mouth, a spring in said body for actuating said outer lid, an inner lid arranged between said outer lid and the mouth of saidbcdy, a catch on said inner lid, and a releasing-spring in 'said body normally in holding engagement with said holding-catch, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A box or receptacle for matches or other articles, comprising, a main body having a mouth, an outerlid arranged oversaid mouth, a spring in said'body for'actuati'ng said outer lid,.an inner lid arranged between said outer lid and the mouthfof said body, a catch on said inner lid, and a releasing-spring in said body normally in holding engagement with said holding-catch, and a card on said inner lid, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A box or receptacle for matches or other articles, comprising, a main body having a mouth, an outer lid arranged over said mouth, a spring in said body for actuating said outer lid, an inner lid arranged between said outer lid and the mouth of said body, a catch on said inner lid, a releasing-spring in said body normally in holding engagement with said holding-catch, and a coiled spring connected with said inner lid for opening said inner lid when disengaged from said releasing-spring, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. 'A box or receptacle for matches or other articles, comprising, a main body having a mouth, an outer lid arranged over'said mouth, a spring in said body for actuating said outer lid, an inner lid arranged between said outer lid and the mouth of said body, a catch on -said inner lid, a releasing-spring in said body normally in holding engagement with said v holding-catch, and a coiled spring connected with said inner lid 'for opening said inner lid when disengaged from said releasing-spring,

and a card on said inner lid, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. A box or receptacle for matches or other articles, comprising a main body having a mouth, a pintle at one end of said mouth, an outer lid pivotally connected with said pintle, a stud on said outer lid, a spring in said body in engagement with said stud, a second or inner lid pivotally connected with said pintle, a holding-catch on said inner lid, and a releasingspring in said main body having areceiving portion With which said catch is in normal IIO holding engagement, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. l

6. A box or receptacle for matches or other articles, comprising a main body having a mouth, a pintle at one end of said mouth, an outer lid pivotally connected with said-pintle, a stud on said outer lid, a spring in said body in engagement with said stud, a second or iuner lid pivotally connected Withsaid pintle,-

a holding-catch on said'inner lid, a releasingspring in said main body having a receiving portion with which said catch is in normal holding engagement, and a coiled spring on said pintle in engagement WithV said inner lid for forcing said lid open when released from its holding engagement with said releasingspring, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. A box or receptacle for matches or other articles, comprising, a main body having a mouth, a pintle at one end of said mouth, an outer lid, perforated ears connected with said outer lid for pivotally arranging said lid on said pintle, a second or inner lid provided with perforated ears also arranged on said pintle, and a coiled spring on said pintle having its respective end portions in engagement with portions of the respective lids, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. A box or receptacle for matches or other articles, comprising, a main body having a mouth, a pintle at one end of said mouth, an outer lid, perforated ears connected with said outer lid for pivotally arranging said lid on said pintle, a second or inner lid provided With perforated ears also arranged on said pintle,

a coiled spring on said pintle having its re spective end portions in engagement with portions of the respective lids, a stud on said outer lid, and a spring in said body in engagement with said stud, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. A boX or receptacle for matches or other articles, comprising, a main body having a mouth, a pintle at one end of said mouth, an outer lid, perforated ears connected with said outer lid for pivotally arranging said lid on said pintle, asecond or innerlid provided with perforated ears also arranged on said pintle, a coiled spring on said pintle having its respective end portions in engagement with portions of the respective lids, astud on said outer lid, a spring in said body in engagement With said stud, a holding-catch on said inner lid, and a releasing-spring in said main plate, a spring-actuated lid connected with the mouth of said box, normally in engagement with said receiving portion of said spring-plate, a second spring-plate in said body, and a second lid pivotally arranged over said firstmentioned lid, said second spring-plate being in operative engagement with said second lid, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

l1. In a match or other box, a main body provided with an opening lO, a covering surrounding said main-body, and a filling beneath said covering and over said opening lO, combined with a spring-plate Within said body, a push-piece on said spring-plate extending into said opening l0, a receiving portion on said spring-plate, and a spring-actuated lidl connected With the mouth of said box, normally in engagement with the receiving portion of said spring-plate, a second springplate in said body, and a second lid pivotally arranged over said first-mentioned lid, said second spring-plate being in operative engagement with said second lid, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that Iclaim theinvention set forth above I have hereu nto set my hand this 13th day of February, 1903.

CHRISTIAN HIERING.

Witnesses:

FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL, GEO. D. RICHARDS. 

